Illustration of "The Giant's Epic" Volume Set

Author: (French) Rabelais, (French) Doré illustrated, Liu Xungang compiled
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-10-01
Features: This book is a masterpiece of the humanist writer Rabelais from the French Renaissance, illustrated by the renowned genius painter Doré in the 19th century. Rabelais believed that "laughter is the essence of humanity." Therefore, the book is filled with humor, as Rabelais wrapped his severe critique of feudal theocracy and his pursuit of humanist ideals in numerous "jokes" and "funny stories," skillfully blending satire into humor. He expressed his profound thoughts in a humorous language, allowing readers to laugh heartily while reflecting on the struggles implied in his biting wit. This is an encyclopedic work, where Rabelais incorporated a vast amount of knowledge from natural sciences and social sciences, such as astronomy, geography, meteorology, navigation, biology, human physiology, medicine, law, philosophy, and language. The language of the book is also diverse and all-encompassing, earning it the reputation of a "fantastic symphony of language." The book is divided into five parts: the first three parts describe the extraordinary birth of Gargantua, the extraordinary adventures of Pantagruel during his studies in Paris, and the father-son discussion on marriage between Gargantua and Pantagruel. The last two parts focus on the various extraordinary experiences of Pantagruel, his friend Panurge, and the monk John as they embark on a long journey across the ocean in search of the bottle of wisdom.